2020 NFL Draft: Justin Herbert goes No. 1 in first-round NFL mock draft

A lot of my picks for the 2020 NFL draft are going to be situational from here on out. How the LA Chargers draft in 2020 will be incredibly dependent on what happens in the rest of their season. Personally, I don’t foresee the Chargers making a push to draft a quarterback of the future. This team is too good right now to sacrifice all that talent to help develop a QB.

I think if Philip Rivers opts out and calls it a career, they will try and pick up a free agent quarterback and make a Super Bowl run with the core of players they have. This is all assuming Rivers or the team opt for him to not return next year. If Rivers leaves after 2019, there should be several attractive free-agent quarterbacks available to them, should they chose to make a run. I have no basis or insider information to base this opinion on. Just call it a hunch.

Regardless of who is throwing the ball next year for the LA Chargers, they will need someone to protect them from pass rushers. The Chargers opt for the local kid in this draft by selecting Austin Jackson, the USC offensive tackle in his sophomore year. According to Walterfootball.com, the tackle is expected to opt for the 2020 NFL draft and will be a riser in the position rankings after the combine.

Jackson will appeal to the Chargers fan base, and maybe most importantly, Philip Rivers himself. Jackson took a leave of absence for the team earlier this year to donate bone marrow to his sister. In case you didn’t know, Rivers is a bit of a family man.

Besides being a compassionate person, Jackson is also a talented offensive tackle, which is a position sorely need on the Chargers. According to PFF, the LA Chargers have the second-worst pass-blocking grade in the NFL this year. This team has had issues bringing in fans, and I understand drafting an offensive tackle isn’t the most exciting pick they could make. But nothing brings in fans like winning.

This team was always going to have trouble competing in the LA sports market. Fans in LA have a plethora of options to pick from, and with so many professional sports teams in the city, it’s easy to find a team winning enough to be in contention. The Chargers will need to start winning more games if they want to sell out their home stadium seats every game.

Having an elite tackle will give Rivers more time in the pocket. Rivers has shown in multiple seasons that he can sling the ball deep when he has enough time to wind up. In the 2020 NFL draft, the Chargers will have to address the offensive line early in the draft. If the team isn’t looking to start over with a rookie quarterback, an elite tackle should still be available with the 11th pick.

Philip Rivers turns 38 years old in December. If he does decide to return to the team, he will need better protection than the line has provided in 2019. If the team decides to go in a different direction at quarterback, the need for better pass-protection will still be required. Getting a proven player from the most popular college team in Los Angeles will help this team keep whoever is under center safe and sound.